Casting apparatus with mold handling/positioning fixture

ABSTRACT

Investment shell mold has a locating fixture thereon by which the shell mold can be handled and moved between a mold heating chamber and a casting chamber by a mold manipulator. The mold manipulator positions the preheated mold in the casting chamber to cooperatively engage a locator fixture disposed in the casting chamber. The locator fixture orients the preheated mold in predetermined position relative to a melt-delivery vessel in the casting chamber so as to receive melt therefrom.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to casting apparatus and shellmolds for casting of molten metallic materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the conduct of investment casting operations, a ceramicinvestment shell mold is formed by the well known lost wax process wherea fugitive (e.g. wax) pattern of the article to be cast is repeatedlydipped in a slurry of fine ceramic powder, drained of excess slurry,stuccoed with coarse ceramic particles, and air dried until aninvestment shell mold is built up to a desired shell mold wall thicknesson the pattern. The pattern then is removed from the shell mold bythermal or chemical treatment, leaving a green shell mold which is thenfired in a furnace to develop mold strength for casting of molten metalor alloy therein. To this end, the fired shell mold is preheated in amold furnace or chamber and then positioned in a casting furnace orchamber where the molten metal or alloy is introduced into the shellmold. The shell mold typically is positioned in a casting furnace orchamber with a shell mold pour cup located below a melt-holding cruciblefrom which the molten metal or alloy is bottom poured or lip poured bytilting the crucible into the underlying shell mold. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,309,976; 5,592,984; 5,931,214; and 6,019,158 describe investment shellmold casting apparatus where a preheated ceramic investment shell moldis positioned relative to a crucible to receive molten metal or alloytherefrom.

[0003] In one particular casting apparatus, a melting chamber isseparated or isolated from an underlying mold-receiving chamber by asuitable isolation valve, such as sliding gate valve, that allows avacuum to be maintained in the melting chamber. An individual charge ofmetal, such as an individual ingot, is melted under vacuum (subambientpressure) in the crucible in the melting chamber above themold-receiving chamber. When the charge is determined to be at anappropriate casting temperature, an operator calls for a preheated moldto be removed from the mold heating furnace and positioned in the vacuumchamber for casting. For example, a mold handler manually removes apreheated mold from the mold heating furnace and manually positions thepreheated mold on a mold pan beneath the melting chamber sealed by theclosed isolation valve. After the isolation valve to the melting chamberis opened, the preheated mold is raised by an elevator under the moldpan to a preselected height in the melting chamber below the crucible.The crucible then is pivoted in a manner to pour the molten metal as afree molten metal stream into a frusto-conical pour cup of the preheatedmold positioned therebelow in the melting chamber. The pour cup has asimple frusto-conical receptacle to receive the stream from the crucibleand direct it into the mold to fill same. After filling of the mold withmolten metal, the mold is lowered on the mold pan by the elevator intothe mold-receiving chamber, and the isolation valve is closed. The meltfilled mold can remain in the mold-receiving chamber or removedtherefrom for solidification of the molten metal therein. This cycle isrepeated to cast a plurality of preheated molds one a time over thecasting campaign.

[0004] In such casting campaigns, the manual placement or positioning ofthe preheated mold on the mold pan in the vacuum chamber results invariations in mold alignment relative to the crucible in the meltingchamber. This alignment variation from one mold to the next typically isgreatest at the beginning of a casting campaign and also when there is achange in the mold used and/or product (casting) being produced. Asmolds are cast in a campaign, adjustments can be made by the moldhandler until a near optimum preheated mold position is consistentlyachieved during the remainder of the campaign. However, as “just intime” manufacturing procedures are adopted, more numerous, shorter runcasting campaigns are being used such that the problem of misalignmentof molds relative to the melting crucible becomes more troublesome.

[0005] The alignment variation from one mold to the next during acasting campaign adversely affects the alignment of the molten metalstream poured from the crucible into the mold pour cup of respectivemolds. For example, such misalignment produces melt splashing becausethe pour cup backs up with molten metal due to the misalignment. Shortpours and lower mold gating efficiency are observed as a result.Moreover, such misalignment produces molten metal swirling in the pourcup that increases dwell time of the melt in the relatively cooler moldpour cup, producing a loss of thermal energy and resultant cold shutsand chill grain defects in the casting, and that decreases axialmomentum of the molten metal stream, producing variability in moldfilling time and decreased laminar metal flow and increased metalturbulence within the mold. Turbulence within the mold can cause theflowing molten metal to form eddies, reducing metal pressure andvelocity, and result in misrun in thin sections of the mold as well asoxide formation that leads to dross formation. Variations in the moldfilling patterns from one mold to the next can increase porosity incastings produced during a particular casting campaign.

[0006] Copending application Ser. No. 09/255,187 describes a shell moldpour cup wall that includes a plurality of anti-swirl ribscircumferentially spaced apart about the periphery of the pour cup in amanner to reduce swirling of molten metal poured in the pour cup as aresult of misalignment between the mold pour cup and pouring vessel.

[0007] There is a need to improve control over handling and alignment ofan investment shell mold relative to a melting crucible, or othermelt-delivery vessel, disposed in a casting furnace.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to satisfy this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides in one illustrative embodiment aninvestment shell mold having a mold locating fixture thereon by whichthe shell mold can be handled and moved between a mold heating chamberand a casting chamber by a mold manipulator. The mold manipulatorpositions the preheated mold in the casting chamber to cooperativelyengage a locator fixture disposed in the casting chamber. The chamberlocator fixture orients the preheated mold in predetermined positionrelative to a melt-delivery device, such as a melt delivery vessel, inthe casting chamber so as to receive melt therefrom.

[0010] The mold locating fixture can be formed integrally with the shellmold and be adapted to be engaged by a robotic or manual moldmanipulator, such as for example a mold pick-up tool. The castingchamber can comprise a casting furnace with the furnace having a locatorfixture therein on which the mold locating fixture is positioned toorient the shell mold relative to a melting crucible in the castingfurnace so as to position the mold in predetermined orientation forreceiving melt from the crucible. Alternately, a movable elevator ram inthe casting chamber can include a locator fixture to this same end.

[0011] The above and other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the following drawingstaken in conjunction with the following detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a shell mold in a moldheating furnace, the shell mold having a mold locating fixture pursuantto an embodiment of the invention for engagement by a mold pick-up tool.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the shell moldpositioned on a locator fixture in a casting chamber to locate the moldrelative to a melt-delivery vessel communicated to the casting chamber.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the mold locating fixturemembers disposed on the locator fixture in the casting chamber.

[0015]FIG. 4 is an end elevation of a mold locating fixture memberformed on the shell mold pursuant to an embodiment of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a pattern assembly usedto make the shell mold by the lost wax process.

[0017]FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an elevator ram in acasting chamber having a locator fixture to locate the mold relative toa melt-delivery vessel communicated to the casting chamber.

[0018]FIG. 7 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a shell moldon a locator fixture on an elevator ram in a casting chamber to locatethe mold relative to a melt-delivery vessel communicated to the castingchamber.

[0019]FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the preheated mold on thelocator fixture on the elevator ram.

[0020]FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a shell mold of anotherembodiment of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 10 is an exploded schematic perspective view of a shell moldfor positioning on a locator fixture pursuant to another embodiment ofthe invention on an elevator ram in a casting chamber to locate the moldrelative to a melt-delivery vessel communicated to the casting chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate schematically a casting apparatus forcasting molten metal or alloy (hereafter molten metallic material) intoa ceramic investment shell mold 10 in a casting furnace chamber 70. Theshell mold 10 is shown comprising an integral frusto-conical pour cup 10a connected to a main mold body 10 b having one or more internal moldcavities 10 c (one shown) therein. A sprue 10 d with internal passage 10e connects the pour cup 10 a and the mold cavity 10 c so that moltenmetallic material in the pour cup 10 a flows into the mold cavity 10 b.The mold cavity 10 c has the shape of an article to be cast. Forexample, in FIG. 1, the mold cavity 10 c may have a shape of a turbinewheel.

[0023] Pursuant to an embodiment of the present invention, the shellmold 10 also includes a mold locating fixture 12 comprising first andsecond elongated rod-shaped locating fixture members 12 a formedintegrally on the exterior of the mold pour cup 10 a. Each rod-shapedfixture member 12 a preferably has a flat lowermost surface 12 b, FIG.4. The remaining peripheral surface 12 c of each fixture member 12 a canhave an arcuate or any other shape such as a polygonal shape or roundshape. The rod-shaped fixture members 12 a are of equal length and arearranged on opposite diametral sides of the pour cup 10 a in a commonhorizontal plane and substantially parallel to one another in the commonplane. The lowermost flat surfaces 12 b of the fixture members 12 acollectively define a reference locating horizontal plane or platform bywhich the shell mold 10 can be picked-up, moved and positioned by a moldpick-up or other manipulator tool 50.

[0024] The mold 10 is formed using a wax or other fugitive patternassembly 20 shown in FIG. 5 having a fugitive (e.g. wax) sections 20 a,20 b, 20 d and rods 22 corresponding to the pour cup 10 a, main moldbody 10 b, sprue 10 d and mold locating fixture members 12 a. The waxrods 22 comprise first and second solid fugitive (e.g. wax) rods thatare wax welded, formed integrally, or otherwise attached, on theexterior of opposite diametral sides of pour cup section 20 a of thepattern assembly to form the fixture members 12 a. Wax rods 22 can beinjection molded integrally with the pour cup of the pattern assembly20, or preformed and attached by wax welding to the wax pattern assembly20. Alternately, the wax rods 22 can be attached to the pour cup 10 aafter one or more ceramic layers are applied on the pattern assembly 20.Alternately, the rods 22 can comprise preformed ceramic or otherrefractory material rods adhered to the wax pour cup or to one or moreceramic layers applied to wax pour cup of the pattern assembly 20. Therods 22 are formed or attached on opposite diametral sides of the pourcup section 20 a in a common horizontal plane and substantially parallelto one another in the common plane to form the fixture members 12 a whenthe pattern assembly is invested in the shell mold 10. Each rod 22 willhave a lowermost flat surface 22 b and arcuate (or other shape) surface22 c complementary to surfaces 12 b, 12 c of the fixture members 12 a.

[0025] The shell mold 10 typically comprises a ceramic investment shellmold made by the well known lost wax process where the fugitive (e.g.wax) pattern assembly 20 is repeatedly dipped in a slurry of fineceramic powder, drained of excess slurry, stuccoed with relativelycoarse ceramic particles, and air dried until an investment shell moldis built up to a desired shell mold wall thickness on the pattern. Thefugitive pattern assembly then is removed from the shell mold by thermalor chemical treatment, leaving the green shell mold 10 which is thenfired in a furnace to develop mold strength for casting of molten metalor alloy therein. The lost wax process for making shell molds isdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,335,717 and 5,297,615, the teachings ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference. The ceramic materials usedin the fabrication of the ceramic slurry and coarse ceramic particleswill be selected in dependence upon the particular metallic material tobe cast into the shell mold and form no part of the present invention.

[0026] After the pattern assembly is removed, the green shell mold 10 isfired or sintered in a furnace (not shown) at an elevated firingtemperature to impart sufficient mold strength for casting of moltenmetallic material in the shell mold.

[0027] In preparation for casting, the fired shell mold 10 is preheatedin a mold heating furnace chamber 60, FIG. 1, and then positioned in acasting furnace chamber 70, FIG. 2, where the molten metal or alloy isintroduced into the shell mold 10 from a melt-holding vessel 80, such amelting crucible 82. The mold heating furnace chamber 60 is shownseparate from the casting furnace chamber 70, FIG. 1, although theinvention is not so limited since the chambers 60, 70 can becommunicated to one another. The preheated shell mold 10 then can bemoved from the mold heating furnace chamber 60 into the casting furnacechamber 70.

[0028] Pursuant to the present invention, the shell mold 10 is moved bymeans of mold pick-up tool 50 shown having a bifurcated fork-shaped end50 a adapted to be positioned about the mold sprue 10 d and under andsupportively engaging the surfaces 12 b of fixture members 12 a to liftand support the preheated shell mold 10 during transport into and out ofthe mold heating chamber 60 and then from the mold heating chamber 60 tothe casting chamber 70. The tool 50 includes an elongated tool arm 50 bthat can be manipulated by a robotic device (not shown) or manually by ahuman worker gripping and manipulating the tool arm 50 b. The tool 50can be made of steel or other suitable material.

[0029] The shell mold 10 can be placed on a heat resistant or othersupport tray T residing in the mold heating furnace chamber 60 by thetool 50, which then is withdrawn from the furnace chamber 60 until theshell mold 10 is ready to be picked up and moved to the casting chamber70. The furnace chamber 60 includes a conventional sealable access door(not shown) through which the shell mold 10 and tool 50 can moved intoand out of the furnace chamber.

[0030] After the shell mold 10 is preheated in the mold heating furnacechamber 60, it is removed therefrom via the furnace door using tool 50and transported using tool 50 to the casting chamber 70, FIG. 2, havinga locator fixture 90 adapted to cooperatively engage, support and locatethe fixture members 12 a of the shell mold 10 to orient it properly withrespect to the melt-holding vessel 80 communicated to the castingchamber. The melt-delivery vessel 80 can comprise a melting crucible 82tiltable about trunnions 82 a (one shown) on opposite sides of thecrucible to pour molten metallic material M therein over the cruciblelip 82 b and into the pour cup 10 a of the shell mold 10.

[0031] The locator fixture 90 comprises spaced apart, parallel siderails 92 each having a horizontal surface 92 a and vertical surface 92b. The surfaces 92 a are coplanar to define a reference horizontal planein a height direction H relative to the vessel 80. The surfaces 92 b areparallel to define respective reference vertical planes spaced apart ina lateral direction L normal to direction H. The lateral (horizontal)distance between upstanding surfaces 92 b is controlled to provide thedesired lateral orientation of the shell mold 10 with respect to thevessel 80. Back or rear vertical surfaces 92 c are provided on rails 92and located in a common vertical plane perpendicular to the planecontaining surfaces 92 a and the plane containing surfaces 92 b tocontrol and limit movement of the mold in the depth direction D in thechamber 70.

[0032] In particular, the lowermost flat surfaces 12 b of the moldlocating fixture members 12 a are positioned by tool 50 on the coplanarhorizontal surfaces 92 a between the upstanding surfaces 92 b with theoutermost lateral ends 12 e of the fixture members 12 proximate to orabutting surfaces 92 b and the rearmost member 12 a proximate to orabutting surfaces 92 c. The tool 50 lowers the shell mold 10 on thelocator fixture 90. The shell mold 10 thereby is positioned at a propervertical height in the direction H and orientations in the directions Land D relative to the vessel 80 to provide accurate control over theshell mold position relative to the vessel 80.

[0033] The locator rails 92 can be mounted in the casting chamber 70 onthe sidewalls 70 a thereof using suitable steel or other connectormembers 97 fastened between the rails and sidewalls, FIG. 2.

[0034] Alternately, referring to FIG. 6, the locator rails 92 can beconnected to a back rail 94 that is fastened and supported on anupstanding rail support member 93 fastened on a mold pan 95 that isdisposed and fastened on the top of movable elevator ram R, FIG. 6. Theback rail 94 is disposed between the rails 92 and forms the verticallocating surfaces 92 c in this embodiment to control mold location inthe direction D. Rail surfaces 92 a, 92 b are cooperably associated withrail 94. Rail surfaces 92 b control mold location in the L direction.The elevator ram R is movable up and down in chamber 70 to move the mold10 on locator rails 92 toward and away from the vessel 80 to controlmold location in the H direction. The casting chamber 70 includes aconventional access door (not shown) that is opened to permit placementof the shell mold 10 on the locator fixture 90.

[0035] After the shell mold 10 is positioned on the locating fixture 90in the casting chamber 70, the tool 50 is disengaged and withdrawn fromthe fixtures members 12 a, leaving the shell mold 10 resting on andlocated with respect to the vessel 80 in the chamber 70. The chamberaccess door then can be closed and sealed to permit melting of themetallic material under vacuum or inert gas atmosphere in the chamber 70and subsequent pouring of the molten metallic material from the vessel80 into the shell mold 10 properly positioned to this end with respectto the vessel 80 by the locating fixture 90.

[0036] The casting furnace chamber 70 may include an optional isolationvalve 100, such as sliding gate valve, that when closed will permit themetallic material M to be melted under vacuum (subambient pressure) orinert gas atmosphere in a melting chamber 75, while the preheated shellmold 10 is placed in the casting chamber 70 on the locating fixture 90below the isolation valve 100. The access door then is closed and sealedto permit the casting chamber below the isolation valve 100 to beevacuated to subambient pressure or to receive inert gas atmospherebefore the isolation valve 100 is opened and the molten metallicmaterial poured from the vessel 80 into the shell mold 10.

[0037] If the elevator ram R is present in casting furnace chamber 70,FIG. 6, it is movable upwardly in chamber 70 to move the shell mold 10to a casting position proximate and below the vessel 80. After the shellmold is cast with molten metal or alloy from vessel 80, the ram R islowered to lower the cast shell mold 10 containing the metallic materialM to a lower position in chamber 70 for removal from the casting furnacechamber 70.

[0038] The cast shell mold 10 containing the metallic material M can beremoved from the casting furnace chamber 70 at any suitable time beforeor after complete solidification of the metallic material therein. Avacuum or inert gas atmosphere in the casting furnace chamber 70 can bereplaced with ambient air so that the access door can be opened and thetool 50 moved into chamber 70 and engaged under mold fixture surfaces 12b to lift the cast shell mold 10 off of the locator fixture 90 and movedout of the chamber 70 for further processing.

[0039] The present invention is advantageous to insure consistent andaccurate positioning of successive shell molds 10 relative to the vessel80 in the casting furnace chamber 70. Improved alignment from one moldto the next during a casting campaign will reduce melt splashing andshort pours as well as improve mold gating efficiency. Moreover,swirling of molten metallic material in the pour cup will be reduced todecrease dwell time of the melt in the relatively cooler mold pour cupso as to reduce loss of thermal energy, resultant cold shuts and chillgrain defects in the casting. Reduction in such swirling in the pour cupcan reduce variability in mold filling times and laminar metal flow andan decrease metal turbulence within the mold.

[0040] Although the mold locating fixture 12 and locator fixture 90 havebeen described with respect to first and second rod-shaped mold fixturemembers 12 a for positioning on locating rails 92, the invention is notso limited and can be practiced using other configurations for the moldfixture 12 and locator fixture 90. For example, referring to FIGS. 7 and8 where like features are represented by like reference numerals primed,the mold locating fixture 12′ is illustrated comprising a D-shapedlocating flange 13′ formed integrally on the mold pour cup 10 a′. Thelocating flange 13′ includes a laterally extending planar platformlocating portion 13 a′ and an annular lip 13 b′ about the pour cup 10a′. The tool 50′ can be inserted under the lip 13 b′ to lift and movethe mold 10′ from a mold heating furnace (not shown) similar to thatshown in FIG. 1 to a casting furnace chamber 70′ similar to that shownin FIG. 2. The locator fixture 90′ includes locator side rails 92′ andback rail 94′ provided on a rail support member 93′ fastened on a moldpan 95′ that is disposed and fastened on the top of movable elevator ramR′, FIG. 7. The tool 50′ positions the preheated shell mold 10′ inchamber 70′ on the rails 92′ in a manner that flange locating portion 13a′ is received on one rail 92′ (left hand rail in FIG. 8) and the lip 13b′ is received on the other rail 92′ (right hand rail in FIG. 8) withthe flange locating portion 13 a′ received in the corner C′ defined byperpendicularly oriented side rail 92′ and back rail 94′ as shown.Casting of the thusly located mold 10′ is conducted as describedhereabove.

[0041] In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 9where like features are represented by like reference numerals doubleprimed, the locating fixture 12″ of the shell mold 10″ can comprise aflat planar plate-like member 15″ provided on pour cup 10 a″. The tool50″ can be inserted under the member 15″ to lift and move the mold 10″from a mold heating furnace (not shown) similar to that shown in FIG. 1to a casting furnace chamber (not shown) similar to that shown in FIG.2.

[0042] The locator fixture in chamber 70 is not limited to the rails 92,94 (92′, 94′) discussed hereabove and may comprise other fixtureconfigurations to receive and locate the mold locating fixture. Forexample, referring to FIG. 10 where like features are represented bylike reference numerals triple primed, the locator fixture 90′″ cancomprise a receptacle or box 17′″ disposed and fastened on elevator ramR′″ to locate the shell mold 10′″ in the chamber 70′″. For example, abox 17′″ with an open top, locator surfaces 17 a′″, 17 b′″ and 17 c′″,and closed bottom 17 d′″ is shown positioned on ram R′″ in chamber 70″″.The surfaces 17 a′″, 17 b′″, and 17 c′″ correspond in function withsurfaces 92 a′, 92 b′, 92 c′ of FIG. 8. The surfaces 17 a′″ receivethereon the locating flange 13 a″″ and the lip 13 b″″ to cooperate withthe surfaces 17 b′″ and 17 c′″ to properly position the shell mold withrespect to the melt-holding vessel. The front and rear walls 17 s′″ canhave a configuration necessary to allow the tool 50′″ to lower the mold10′″ onto the locator flanges 17 a′″. Other box or receptacleconfigurations are possible as well.

[0043] Moreover, although a mold heating chamber 60 separate fromcasting chamber 70 have been described, the mold heating chamber can becommunicated to the casting chamber. For example, in FIG. 2, the castingchamber 70 can communicate directly to the casting chamber 70 by anaccess door, passage or opening therebetween. Further, in FIG. 2,casting chamber 70 can include conventional heating elements to preheatthe shell mold 10 therein to a selected mold casting temperature priorto pouring of molten metal or metal alloy from the crucible. In thisembodiment, the casting chamber 70 also comprises the mold heatingchamber.

[0044] Although the invention has been described above with respect tocertain embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatmodifications and the like can be made therein without departing fromthe scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim
 1. Casting apparatus, comprising a mold having a mold locatingfixture thereon, a casting chamber including a melt-delivery device fromwhich the mold receives a melt, a locator fixture disposed in thecasting chamber, and a mold manipulator for positioning said mold insaid casting chamber with said mold locating fixture cooperativelyengaged with the locator fixture in the casting chamber to locate saidmold relative to said melt-delivery device.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the mold locating fixture is integral to the shell mold.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein the mold locating fixture is integral to apour cup of the mold.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moldfixture comprises first and second coplanar member on opposite sides ofthe pour cup.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mold fixturecomprises a planar member proximate the pour cup.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said melt-delivery device is a crucible communicated tothe casting chamber.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the crucible isa tiltable to pour melt therefrom into the mold.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the locator fixture comprises first and second parallelrails with each rail having a horizontal surface and vertical surface.9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the horizontal surfaces are coplanarto define a reference horizontal plane in a height direction.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 8 wherein the vertical surfaces are parallel todefine reference vertical planes spaced apart in a lateral directionnormal to the horizontal plane.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein thefirst and second rails are cooperably associated with a vertical surfacethat controls location of the mold in a direction perpendicular to theheight direction and lateral direction.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11wherein the vertical surface is formed by a third rail disposed betweenthe first and second rails.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein saidsurfaces position the shell mold at a vertical height and first andsecond lateral orientations relative to a melt-delivery vessel.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the mold manipulator comprises a moldpick-up tool to engage said mold locating fixture.
 15. A method ofcasting molten metallic material, comprising providing a mold to have amold locating fixture thereon and positioning the mold in a castingchamber with said mold locating fixture in cooperative engagement with alocator fixture disposed in said casting chamber so as to orient themold to receive molten metallic material.
 16. The method of claim 15including providing the mold locating fixture integrally on the mold.17. The method of claim 16 wherein the mold locating fixture is formedintegrally on a pour cup of the mold.
 18. The method of claim 17 whereinthe mold fixture comprises first and second coplanar members on oppositesides of the pour cup.
 19. The method of claim 15 wherein the locatorfixture comprises a first and second parallel rails with each railhaving a horizontal surface and vertical surface.
 20. The method ofclaim 19 wherein the locator fixture includes a vertical surface thatcontrols location of the mold in a direction perpendicular to thehorizontal surfaces and vertical surfaces.
 21. The method of claim 15including disposing a melt-delivery vessel to communicate to the castingchamber.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the locator fixturepositions the mold in predetermined position relative to themelt-delivery vessel.
 23. The method of claim 15 including lifting thepreheated mold by the mold manipulator.
 24. The method of claim 23including lowering the preheated mold onto the locator fixture in thecasting chamber.
 25. Method of casting molten metallic material,comprising: preheating a mold in a mold heating chamber, engaging a moldmanipulator with a mold locating fixture disposed on the mold, movingthe preheated mold using the mold manipulator from the mold heatingchamber to a casting chamber having a melt-delivery vessel, positioningthe preheated mold in the casting chamber with the mold locating fixturecooperatively engaged with a locator fixture in the casting furnace soas to position the preheated mold at a vertical height and lateralorientation relative to the melt-delivery vessel, and transferringmolten metallic material from the melt-delivery device into thepreheated mold.